Can opener



'Oct. 3, 1961 1. J-EPSON ETAL 3,002,274

CAN OPENER Filed June 30, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 3, 1961 l. JEPSON ETAL CAN OPENER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 30, 1960 I INVENTORS:

Oct. 3, 1961 l. JEPSON ETAL 4 CAN OPENER Filed June so, 1960 5 Shets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TORS:

Oct. 3, 1961 l. JEPSON EI'AL 3,002,274

CAN OPENER Filed June so, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1561a 45g I 54' i6 6%? IN V EN TORS:

United vSuites Patent 3,002,274 CAN OPENER Ivar Jepson, Oak Park, and Gilbert R. Wolter, Elmhurst, 11]., assignors to Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 30,1960, Ser. No. 39,888 23 Claims. (Cl. 30-4) This invention relates generally to can openers, and, more particularly, to improvements in power operated can openers. I V

This invention represents an improvement in the wellknown type of can opener employing a power driven, serrated feed wheel which cooperates with a freely rotatable cutter wheel mounted for relative movement with respect to the feed wheel. When these wheels are in the cutting positions, the feed wheel engages the lower edge of the head around the Upper lip of the can while rotating the can. The cutter wheel is positioned on the other side of the can wall from the feed wheel where it penetrates the can lid. A peripheral groove in the cutter wheel adjacent the cutting edge receives the can lip and,

by virtue of its overlapping relation with the feed wheel,

grips the can wall therebetween. This type of can opener has much appeal because of its inherently simple construction involving a limited number of necessary elements.

In recent years attempts have been made to utilize a motor driving means for can openers in lieu of the hand operated crank mechanism which has been well known for many years. These attempts at power driving can openers have for the most part, been clumsy, makeshift arrangements in which an electric motor has merely been combined with an existing manual can opener construction. Other prior. art automatic openers have included very elaborate mechanisms and control means to automatically open cans. These complex openers have been too costly to be commercially successful.

It may be appreciated that the labor saving resulting from power operating a can opener is not great. "The well-known hand crank operated openers are relatively easy and quick in their operations. It is necessary, therefore, that a power operated can opener have a low selling price if it is to compete successfully with the hand operated can openers. The instant invention relates to a simple, compact, can opener design in which all the necessary functional elements have been retained while reducing the number of parts substantially. The simplifications involve the mounting of all theparts in a small cup-shaped housing and the arrangement for relatively biasing the cutter and feed wheels in the vertical and horizontal directions. In addition, the simple eccentric mounting of the cutter wheel is arranged to function as well as the more complicated mounting designs known in the art.

It should also be kept in mind that with the addition of the power driving means to a can opener, it immediately becomes a more dangerous instrumentality than the hand powered unit. Since most consumers are reluctant to recognize these dangers and to pay an increased price to minimize or to eliminate them, it would be desirable to provide a means for reducing the dangers 3,002,274 Patented Oct. 3, 1961 2 kitchen counter top. We have invented two types of mounting which are suitable for different situations, one being adaptable to certain types of Wall mounting and the other being an improved type of stand mounting.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved can opener which is simple in construction and which has a low manufacturing cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a power opera-ted can opener which is simple in construction and compact in design.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a power can opener having a simplified housing which supports all of the elements of the opener including simplified means for resilient biasing the operating members into engagement with a can.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved eccentric type mounting for a can opener cutting element.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a can opener of the type having a feed wheel and cutter wheel with novel means for mounting the feed wheel and cutter Wheel thereon with adjustable resilient biasing means for the feed wheel accessible from outside of the housing.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a magnetic lid holder which may also serve as a guard for the operation mechanism of the can opener.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a wall mounting means for an electric can opener whereby the can opener may be mounted on the wall in any convenient location or may be mounted on the Wall directly over a plug receptacle.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a stand mounting for an electric can opener wherein cord storage means are provided.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in

which:

'FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the can opener utilizing the standtype mounting and having a can in operating position therein;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the stand mounted can opener shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevational view of the top of the can opener stand shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the can opener in FIG. 1 showing in exploded relation the mounting plates for wall mounting the can opener;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of the can opener of FIG. .3 with the lid retaining means removed;

FIG. 6 is a modified sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 6 including the lid holding means;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 6;

FIG. '10 is -a fragmentary perspective view of one end a of the housing showing several of the parts in exploded relation and showing the operating lever, the can cover holder and various other parts removed;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line l111 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 1212 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic layout of the cutter wheel mounting.

.ber.

L-shaped when viewed from the side including a hori-' zontally disposed base portion 14 and a vertically positioned upright portion 16 which extends from the rear portion of the base. can opener 11 on the stand support 12 there is provided a rearwardly displaced mounting plate 18 at the top of the upright 16. The upright 16 terminates in a flat supporting shelf 16a which supports the can opener in its position secured to the mounting plate 18.

To mount the can opener 11 on the plate 13, a plurality of mounting screws 20 are utilized which extend through the plate 18 into engagement with the can opener 11. An opening 22 has been formed in the mounting plate 18 to permit a can opener power cord 24 to extend therethrough. The opening 22 has been made sufiicient- 1y large so that a plug 26 secured to the end of the power cord. 24 may be passed therethrough on assembling the can opener to the stand 12. The entire stand support 12 including the base 14, the upright 16 and the mounting plate 18 is a single piece of molded plastic.

Since the can opener is normally used in the kitchen where there are many conveniently located outlets, a power cord of about 4 feet in length is normally provided with the can opener. Since in many instances the electrical outlet will be no more than a foot or so from the location in which the can opener is to be used, it is desirable to have a means available for varying the available length of the power cord. In the instant design, this is accomplished by' forming the upright 16 with a recess or cavity 16b within which the unused section of the power cord may be stored. To permit the power cord 24 to enter the recess 16b the opening 22 is slotted downwardly at 28.

To retain a portion of the power cord within the recess 16b, a metallic plate 30 is utilized as a closure mem- The plate 30v is the same size as the opening of the recess 16b and is supported in the opening on four bosses 160 which are formed integrally with the, plastic support 12. A plurality of self-tapping screws 32 may be used to secure the closure plate 30' in position. One of the outer walls of upright 16 is slotted at 16d to permit the power cord 24 to exit from the recess. The slot 16d is formed of such a depth that the plate 30 clamps the cord 24 therebetween. It should be understood therefore that the lower left-hand screw 32 as viewed in FIG. 2 must be loosened to adjust the length of power cord extending from the recess 16b. Once the selected amount of cord is extending therefrom, the same lower left screw 32 may be tightened down forming a strain relief which prevents more cord from being withdrawn from the recess.

The mechanism of the can opener is enclosed within a cup-shaped housing member 34 which has an opening facing toward the rear. Cooperating with the housing 34 to complete the chamber within which the mechanism is mounted there is a plate member 36. The plate 36 has a number of holes 36a formed therein which receive screws 38 to assemble the plate 36 to the housing 34. In addition to the openings 36a, the plate 36 isprovided with four threaded openings 361), three of which are visible in FIG. 4, to receive the mounting screws- 20 which extend through the mounting plate 1 8 of the stand support 12.

in the event the can opener is to be mounted on the Wall, it is necessary that means be availableto mount the can opener thereon without the use of screws ex tending inwardly, from the. rear. To accomplish this end,

For the purpose of mounting the a separate wall plate 40 is utilized, as is best shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7. The wall plate 40 includes four olfset lugs 40a which project inwardly from the plane of the plate. The plate member 36 has four openings 36c which are positioned to correspond to the location of the lugs 40a. Thus, upon moving the wall plate 40 against the plate member 36 the lugs 40a may be positioned to extend through the openings 360. Each vertically aligned pair of openings 360 are interconnected by an elongated slot 36d which extends upwardly past the uppermost openings 36c. After the lugs 49a have been inserted into the openings 360, the plate 36 may be moved downwardly so that the lugs 4921 move vertically in the slots 36d into locked engagement with the plate 36.

It can be readily apreciated that the wall plate 40 may be mounted on any convenient wall by means of screws extending through openings 40b provided thereon. An enlarged opening 40c positioned in the center of the wall plate 40 permits the power cord to extend therethr ough. In instances where there is a convenient terminal box located in the kitchen, it may be desirable to mount the can opener directly over the terminal box so that there, will be no problem of extending the power cord from the can opener to the terminal box. In such instances, the wall plate 40 may take the form of a substantially cup-shaped member having; outwardly extending walls 49d. The walls 40d are designed to engage the plaster wall 41 as is best shown in FIG. 6. The purpose of the cup-shaped design is to allow room for a wall receptacle which normally includes a flange extending from the wall opening for the terminal box across the surface of the plaster wall.

In FIG. 6 there is shown a conventional electrical terminal box 42 which is secured in the plaster wall 41 by any suitable means, such as for instance, by screwing or nailing the box 42 to the studding of the wall. Electrical power is brought into the terminal box by means of a suitable cable which is joined to the terminal box by a connector 44. A pair of wires 46 are shown extending inwardly to connect to a plug receptacle 48 mounted within the terminal box.

While it is conventional to employ plug receptacles which are substantially flush with the wall surface, it would be impossible to mount the can opener flush with the wall if means were not provided to accommodate the power cord 24 and the plug 26. To provide room for these parts the plug receptacle 48 has been provided with an inwardly extending recess 50 within which the plug 26 and the coiled cord 24 are received. The receptacle 48 has an integrally formed flange 48a which extends outwardly from the top of the recess 50. The flange 48a is molded with suitable openings to receive mounting screws 52 which extend therethrough into threaded engagement with assembly tabs 42a provided assure flush mounting of the can opener while at the same time not interfering with the outwardly extending portions of the receptacle 48.

Turning now to the mechanism of the can opener, we note that there are two operative members on the front of the can opener which elfect the removal of the lid of a can. One of these is a serrated feed or drive wheel 54 which is carried by the outer end of a shaft 56. Mounted immediately above the feedwheel in overlapping relationship therewith is a cutter wheel 58. The cutter wheel 58 is retained in place by means of a screw 60. As can best be seen in FIG. 9, the axis of rotation of the cutter wheel 58 is inclined at approximately 23 degrees to the horizontal and to the axis of the feed wheel shaft 56. The cutter wheel 58 is displaced asmall' amount to the left of the feed wheel 56 when in its cutting position. FIGS. 5, 7" and' 9 show the cutterwheel 58 in its operative or can cutting position with-respect to the feed wheel 54 while FIG. 13 shows a. schematic layout of the mounting of cutter wheel 58.

To permit loading of a can, it is necessary that the feed Wheel and the cutter wheel be mounted for relative movement so that they may be moved apart to permit insertion of the lip of the can therebetween. To accomplish this movable mounting of the cutter wheel, there is provided an operating lever 62 to which the cutter wheel is aflixed by the aforementioned screw 60. The cutter wheel 58 is rotatably supported on a boss which extends outwardly from lever 62 and which receives screw 60. The operating lever 62 is a one-piece diecasting including a mounting boss 64 and a handle portion 66. This supporting boss for the cutter wheel 58 may be an integrally cast portion of lever 62 or it may take the form of a steel bearing suitably secured to the lever 62 as by casting the lever around a steel insert.

The handle portion 66 is disposed at the outer end of the operating lever 62 and includes a generally horizontally extending portion which is adapted to be engaged by the hand of the operator to rotate the operating lever in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIGS. 1

and 5. In FIG. 5, the operating lever 62 is in two positions; the solid lines showing the operating or can cutting posiiton and the dotted linesshowing the load position. As may be seen by the dotted line showing of lever 62 in FIG. 5, the cutter wheel 58 is displaced upwardly about half an inch as a result of the operating levers being rotating through an angle of about 100 degrees. This upward displacement of the cutter wheel is caused by the eccentric mounting of the cutter wheel 58 with respect to the mounting boss 64.

It would be desirable to have the cutter wheel 58 move in a direction as close to perpendicular as possible in moving from the load position to the can cutting position. Many of the prior art can openers have utilized lever and slide arrangements so that the cutter wheel is restricted to straight vertical movement. Such arrangements; however, are generally more bulky and more complex than the simple eccentric mounting of the cutter wheel on the operating lever. Prior art can openers using this eccentric type'of arrangement have positioned the axis of rotation of the lever substantially directly above the axis of the cutter wheel. With such an arrangement, the cutter wheel tends to move almost horizontally during a portion of its movement into the cutting position. When the cutter moves horizontally in such a manner, the cutting edge of the wheel has a tendency to engage the lid of the can at a point spaced from the lip of the can because of the inclined axis of the cutter. When the cutting edge pierces the lid at a point spaced from the lip or cylindrical wall, there is a fragment of the lid left attached to the wall of the can. It is considered desirable to sever the entire lid as close to the lip as possible and leave no such lid fragments attached to the can. 7

In FIG. 13, a schematic showing is provided of the relative positions of the pivotal axis of the operating lever 62 and the cutter wheel 58 as seen in the load position and in the can cutting position. The pivotal axis of the lever 62 is located at the intersection of the center lines marked A. The elliptical profile of the cutter 58, as viewed from the front as in FIG. 5, is shown in a lowered or operating position and in a raised or load position. The geometrical centers of the elliptical showings in the load and operating positions are designated by letters B and C, respectively. The dotted are D extending between the points B and C represents the path followed by the center of the cutter as it moves from the load to the operating position. To illustrate the relationship between points A and C, the vertical and horizontal spacings of these points are indicated by the letters X and Y, respectively. By making the distances X and Y approximately equal, the desired movement of the cutter at approximately 45 degrees above and 45 degrees below point ;A, applicants have succeeded in approaching as closely as possible the desirable condition of having the cutter wheel move straight vertically as it pierces thecan. Thisarrangement, as shown in FIG. 13,'has permitted applicants to employ a compact eccentric mounting for the cutter wheel, while achieving the characteristics of themore complicated and more expensive cutter wheel mountings. V

In severing the lid from the can it is necessary that the bead around the upper edge of the can be gripped between the feed wheel 54 and the cutter wheel 58. The cutting of the lid is actually performed by the circular I sharpened edge 58a of the cutter 58. The cutter wheel 58 has argroove 58b and a conical surface 580 positioned rearwardly of the cutting edge. The grooved portion 58b and conical surface 580 of the cutter cooperate with the serrations on the cutter wheel 54 to grip the bead of the can tightly. The feed wheel may then rotate the can into continuous cutting engagement with the cutter 58 to completely remove the lid of the can.

Since the bead along the top edge of the can is not always of the same height or thickness, it is necessary for the can opener to include means for compensating for these variations. To compensate for the variations in bead height, the bearing means supporting the mounting boss'64 of the operating lever is resiliently biased in the vertical direction. As may best be seen in FIGS. 8 and 10, the housing 34 is provided with an elongated slot 68 in the forward wall above the feed wheel shaft 56. Re-

ceived within the slot 68 is a rectangular bearing block 70, the center portionofwhich has a horizontally extending bore 72 formed therein. The bore 72 is adapted to receive and pivotally mount the boss 64 of the operating lever 62. vThe slot 68 is formed with a reduced portion 68a at its upper end to closely enclose a biasing spring 74. The biasing spring 74 urges the bearing block 70 and the operating lever 62 which mounts therein toward a lowermost position in slot 68. The feed wheel 54 and cutter wheel 58 are positioned close together so that when the smallest can bead is inserted between the two wheels, the spring 74 is compressed slightly to apply a gripping force on the can bead. It may easily be appreciated that in the case of higher beads the spring 74 is merely compressed to a greater extent.

The bearing block 70 and its biasing spring 74 are maintained in their positions in the slot 68 by the assembly means. for the operating lever 62. The mounting boss 64 of the operating lever has a threaded hole on its inner end to receive an assembly bolt 76. In engagement with the assembly bolt 76 is a retaining washer 77 immediately against which is positioned a bearing washer 78. On the inside of the washer 78 a locking key or tab 78a is formed thereon. The tab 78a on the washer is received in a groove 64a in the mounting boss 64. The interengagement between the tab 78a and the groove 64a causes the bearing washer78 to rotate with the boss 64 as the operating lever is moved between the load and the can cutting positions. Such an arrangement allows the bolt 76 to rotate with the boss 64 and prevents loosening of the bolt. Actually the washer 78 is not in direct engagement with the housing 34 along the edges of the slot 68. An elongated'retainer 80 lies against the wall of housing 34 to close the inside openings of the slot 68. To allow the mounting boss 64 to extend therethrough, the retainer 80 has an oval hole 80a formed therein. The plate 80 is retained against displacement laterally of the axis of mounting 'boss 64 by means of integral projections 82 formed on the inside of housing 34 as may best be seen vin FIG. 11. The washer 78 is of such diameter to engage the portions of retainer 80 adjacent the oval opening 80a and prevent displacement of the retainer axially of the mounting boss 64.

The outer face of the slot 68 is covered in part by a chrome plated steel plate 84 which extends across a porwhee1'58 is obtained. By locating the points B and C tion of the front wall of the can opener beneath the 0perating wheels. The plate 84 serves as a decorative trim piece as well as performing certain essential functions. One of these functions is the closing of the front side of the slot 68 to prevent displacement of the biasing spring 74 from the slot.

To retain the plate 84 in engagement with the housing and to provide a controlled force resisting rotation of the operating lever 62, there is provided a thrust washer 86 which is positioned between'the operating lever 62 and the trim plate 84 as is best shown in FIG. 9. The operating lever 62 is formed with an annular shoulder 88 which is in engagement with the thrust washer 86. Immediately inside of the annular shoulder 88 adjacent the base of the mounting boss 64 there is an annular groove 90 which is adapted to receive a spring washer 92. The spring washer 92 asserts a force between the thrust washer 86 and the groove 90 on the operating lever 62 and assures a relatively constant frictional resistance to the rotation of the operating lever 62.

It should be appreciated that through the use of the annular shoulder on the operating lever and the inner assembly means on the operating lever for the purpose of securing the retainer 80 and the trim plate 84 in place, an extremely simplified construction has been provided for resiliently mounting the operating lever 62.

While the spring 74 and the mounting structure for the operating lever provide a means for gripping the can bead and compensating for variation in the height of the bead, it is also necessary to provide means for relative movement of the cutter wheel and feed wheel in the horizontal plane to compensate for variation in thickness of the wall of the can. To perform this function, an extremely simple mechanism has been provided which may be readily adjusted from the exterior of the housing after the can opener has been assembled. The above-mentioned feed wheel shaft 56 is journalled in the front wall of the can opener housing 34 by means of a boss 94 formed integrally with housing 34 and a sleeve type bearing 96 which is pressed into the opening in the bearing boss 94. Mounted on the inner end of the feed wheel shaft 56 is a molybdenum impregnated nylon gear 98. The nylon gear 98 has a metallic insert 100 molded with the gear. The insert 100 assembles in the press fit on the end of the feed wheel shaft 56. The rear face of gear 98 has a spherical surface 98a which extends across the metallic insert 100. The sleeve bearing 96 is of such a length that there is some axial play in the feed wheel shaft 56. Thus the distance between rear edge of feed wheel 54 and the forwardmost portion of the insert 100 is greater than the length of sleeve bearing 96. To bias the feed wheel shaft forwardly a cantilever spring 102 is mounted on the rear plate member 36 by means of a rivet 104. The free end of spring 2 is adapted to engage the spherical bearing 98a on the nylon gear.

Because of the desire to obtain a reasonably constant biasing force on the feed wheel shaft 56, it is necessary to provide adjusting means for the cantilever spring 102. It can easily be appreciated that with the many necessary tolerances in the spring 102, in the housing 34, and in the rear plate member 36, it would be almost impossible to obtain a constant biasing force without some adjustment means. To accomplish this adjustment, a screw 106 is threadedly received in the cantilever spring 102 intermediate of the mounting rivet 104 and the point at which the spring engages the spherical bearing surface 98a. A hole 108 which is slightly smaller in diameter than the head of the screw 106 is provided in the back plate member 36. Thus, a screw driver may be inserted through the hole 108 to adjust the screw 106 after the back plate has been assembled to the housing 34. Through the engagement of the head of screw 106 with the back plate 36, the force applied by the cantilever spring 102 to the feed wheel shaft 56 may be varied.

To'provide the power for driving the can opener 11, a small series wound motor 110 is employed which is somewhat similar to the motor shown in Jepson Patent No. 2,688,184. The motor 1110 includes a horseshoe type field 112 having a field coil 114 located at the bight portion of the U-shaped field laminations. The brushes and the armature bearings are supported on a pair of molded nylon end bells 1-16 and 118. The end bells 116 and 118 are secured together by means of threaded rod members 119 which extend parallel to the axis of the motor through the field laminations as well as the end bells. To mount the motor within the housing 12 the nylon end bells are formed with integral supports 1.20 which are engaged by retaining screws 122 to secure the motor in place.

The motor includes an armature shaft 123 which has formed integrally on its outer end a worm 124. The worm 1-24 is positioned in driving engagement with a molybdenum impregnated nylon spur gear 126. The gear 126 is mounted for rotation on a stub shaft 128 which is pressed into an opening in a boss 130 formed integrally with the housing 34. A suitable bearing washer 132 is positioned between the gear 126 and the end of boss 130. The rearwardly extending end of shaft 128 is provided with an additional bearing washer and suitable retaining means. Integrally formed with the spur gear 126 is a smaller spur gear 134 which is in driving engagement with the gear 98 mounted on the feed. wheel shaft 56. By means of the worm 124, the gears 126, 134 and 98, a substantial gear reduction may be obtained between the motor 110 and the feed wheel shaft 56.

The motor 110 is designed to run in such a direction that the gear-126, as seen in FIG. 11, rotates clockwise. In rotating the gear 126 in the clockwise direction there is, of course, a considerable axial force placed on armature shaft 123. Rather than attempting to absorb this force in the bearings of motor 110, a separate thrust absorbing means is provided. The bearing boss 94 for the feed wheel drive shaft 56 has a channel-likeportion 170 for-med along one edge thereof. The channel 170 extends generally parallel to the feed wheel shaft 56 and perpendicular to the armature shaft 123. Received within the channel 170 is a nylon bearing plate 172 which is positioned to be engaged by the end of the armature shaft 123. To retain the bearing plate 172 in position, a pair of overhanging ribs 174 are provided along the edge of the channel 170. As may be seen in FIG. 11, the nylon bearing plate 172 has been flexed slightly to permit assembly into the channel 170, the resilience of the plate 172 thereafter holding it assembled within the channel. The channel 170 and the cooperating ribs 174 are cast integrally with the bearing boss 94 thereby providing an extremely simple means of supporting the thrust bearing for the armature shaft 123 and worm 124.

As has been explained above, the end bells 116 and 118 of the motor 110 are formed of nylon or any other suitable plastic insulating material. Since the gear 126 and the thrust bearing 172 are also made of plastic, the motor parts including the field and the armature are completely insulated from the metal housing 34 of the can opener.

For the purpose of completing the circuit through the motor 110 at the time the operating lever has moved the cutter wheel into the can cutting position, a switch 136 is mounted within the housing 34 in close proximity to the handle portion 66 of the operating lever. Since the switch 136 is mounted within the housing 34, an operating member 138 is included which has a portion extending outwardly through an opening in the upper wall of the housing 34. Upon downward movement of the operating lever 62, the handle portion 66 engages the upper end of the operating member 138 and moves it downward. The operating member 138 includes a resilient supporting portion 138a which biases the upper end into engagement with the handle portion 66. The upper end of the operating member is provided with a small bent over portion 1138b which actually engages the handle portion 66. The end of the supporting portion 9 138a remote from the handle engaging portion 138b is mounted on a switch bracket -142 by means of a rivet 144 or other suitable retaining means. The bracket 142 is a flat plate which is secured to the front wall of the housing 34 and has a pair of mutually perpendicular walls 142a and 1421) extending rearwardly therefrom. The wall 142a serves to supportthe operating member 138' while the vertically extending wall 1421) supports the switch 136. The switch 136 is a normally open switch having an operating button 136a positioned beneath the operating member 138. The resilient supporting portion 138a of the operating member is sufficiently strong to bias the operating member 62 out of engagement with the button 136a when no force is being exerted on handle portion 66. Thus, the motor 110 is energized only while downward pressure is applied to the handle portion 66.

Mounted on the front Wall of the can opener housing- 34 is a magnetic lid holding mechanism 146. Magnetic type lid holders are well known in the can opener field. They are designed to, retain the lid after it is severed from the can and prevent the lid from dropping into the food contained in the can. The lid holding mechanism 146 includes a pivotally mounted lid holder 148 on which a magnet 150 is loosely supported. The magnet 150 is secured in a channel-shaped member 152.

The lid holder 148 includes downwardly extending sidewalls 148a which form acup-like enclosure to receive the magnet 150 and its channel-shaped holder 152. Two of the opposed sidewalls 148a are formed with open ings 1 48b to receive tabs 152a which extend outwardly from the ends of the channel-shaped member 152. The tabs 152a are loosely received in openings 148b in walls 1480 so that the magnet is free to pivot and be displaced slightly with respect to the lid holder 148. This provision for relative rnovement between 'the magnet 150 and the lid holder 148 is necessary so that the magnet may adjust itself to optimum engagement with the somewhat irregular surfaces of can lids.

The lid holding mechanism 146 also includes a pair of L-shaped support'mernbers 154 and 156 which pivotally support the lid holder with respect to the can opener'housing 34. As may be best seen in FIGS. 10 and 12, vertically extending portions 154a and 156a of the support members are recessed in shallow grooves in the face of the housing 34 and are secured thereto by means of rivets 158. The support members 154 and 156 are also provided with horizontally extending portions and 156-b which are located in substantially the same horizontal plane.

The outer ends of the horizontally extending portions 154b and 156b are formed over to provide aligned cylinstantially vertical position where it covers the cutter wheel 58 and the feed wheel 54 and prevents one from contacting these parts. In that the biasing spring 160 is continuously operative tending to urge the lid holder 148 to its uppermost position, means must be provided to retain the lid holding mechanism 146 in its guarding position. The magnet 150 is utilized to perform this function.

The lower front edge of the housing 34 is provided with.

a step or projection 344 which extends horizontally immediately below the cutting wheel 54. The step 34a extends outwardly into substantial alignment with the face of the feed wheel 54. In this position it serves as a stop for and cooperates with the lid holder 148; With the step 34a extending beneath the feed Wheel 54 and the lid holder 148 extending across the front of the feed Wheel, there is little possibility of aperson inadvertently injuring themselves through contact with the feed and cutter wheels 54 and 58, respectively. It shouldbe noted that the step 34a also servesas a guide for a can in the operative position, the cylindrical wall of the can resting against it.

The vtrim plate 84 which was mentioned briefly above in connection with the closing of the front face of slot 68, has a stepped portion 84b which conforms to the contour of the housing step 34a. performs a necessary function with respect to retaining the. lid holding mechanism 146 in the guarding or vertical position. Since the housing 34 is of die cast aluminum, a nonmagnetic material, it is necessary to provide a magnetic material on the face of the housing if the magnet 150 is to be utilized in latching the lid holder 148 in the guarding position. Since the trim plate 84 is made of steel, it serves to retain the lid holding mechanism in the guarding position. It should be understood that the spring 160 is made of such a strength that it will not raise the lidholder 148 while the magnet 150 is in engagement with the stepped portion 8421. When the magnet 150 is moved a slight distance away from the magnetic material of the trim plate 84, the spring will be sufiicient to move the lid holding mechanism 146 to its operative or raised position.

When a can 13 is placed in cutting position in the can opener, as shown in FIG. 1, it is gripped between the feed wheel 54 and the cutter wheel 58 as explained above.

, Because of the limited engagement of the can by the two 'wheels and the stepped portions 34a and 84b, it is necessary to have additional stabilizing means to prevent the can from twisting during the cutting operation. Since the cutter wheel 54 rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed from the front in FIG. 5, .there is a tendency for drical bearing portions 1540 and 156C, respectively. Ex-

tending through the bearing portions 154a and 1560 is a pin 158 'which pivotally supports the lid holder 148. A helical spring member 160 received on pin 158 is adapted to engage the lid holder 148 and bias it to an uppermost position in which it is inclined slightly to the horizontal as is best shown in FIG. 9. One end of spring member 160 is in engagement with support 156 while the other end engages lid holder 148. Since the lid holder 148 is substantially horizontal when in engagement with the lid of a can', as shown in FIG. 1, the lid holding mechanism 146 has a tendency to raise the lid upwardly out of the top of the can when the lid is severed from the can, as may be seen in FIG. 1.

tional and well known in the art, the holder conceived by applicants performs additional functions heretofore unknown in the art. The mechanism not only grasps and lifts the 'lid as it is severed from the can, but it also serves as a: guardfor'the drive wheel and cutter wheel mechanism' when they are not in use. "The inoperative or figures, the lid holder 148 has been rotated to a sub- 'While lid holding mechanisms are generally convenhousing 34. 1 I v A somewhat larger opening 84e positioned between the the edge of the can following. the cutter, or to the right as seen in FIG. 1, to lift up. As a result, the bead of the can engages and is guided by the horizontal portion 15411 of the L-shaped, support 154. To further guide the can, a horizontally extending pin member 162 is secured to the front of the housing 34 to the left of the feed wheel 54 as seen in FIG. 5. The pin member 162 which engages the cylindrical sidewall of the can and the portion 15412 of the L-shaped support which engages the lip of the can form a structurally simple arrangement for maintaining the can in proper position with respect to the feed and cutter wheels 54 and 58, respectively, during.

the can opening operation.

The trim plate 84 described above in connection with the functioning of the cutter wheel biasing means 74 and in connection with the guarding function of the lid holding mechanism 146 also serves a decorative purpose in improving the appearance of the front of the can opener. As may best be seen in FIG. 10, the trim plate 84 has a pair of horizontally spaced openings 84c and 84d through: which the horizontalv portions of the L-shaped supports 154 and 156 extend. The trim plate covers the verticalportions 154a and 156a of the L-shaped supports, these portions being recessed in grooves in the front of the The stepped portion 84b openings 84c and 84d is provided to permit the mounting boss 64 of the operating lever 62 to extend into engagement with the resiliently mounted bearing block 70. The annular shoulder 88 on the operating lever cooperates with the thrust washer 86 to hold the upper portion of the trim plate 84 flat against the front of the housing 34. The guide pin 162 also performs a retaining function in connection with the trim plate 84. The pin 162 has an inner end 162a which is of a reduced diameter and extends through an opening 84] in the trim plate and a cooperatingopening 164 in the housing 34. The end of the pin 162 extending within the housing is peened over with the shoulder on the pin 162 exerting a retaining forceagainst the trim plate 84.

Extending outwardly from the front of housing 34, one end of the feed wheel shaft bearing 96 is visible. Partially surrounding the outwardly extending portion of the bearing 96. is an extension of the bearing boss 94. As may best be seen in FIG. 10, the outer end of the bearing boss extends only approximately two-thirds of the way around the bearing 96. The reason for the elimination of the remainder of the supporting boss 94 in this area is obvious from an inspection of FIG. 9. In order to make the annular shoulder 88 on the operating lever large enough in diameter to provide adequate support, it was necessary to cut away a portion of the bearing boss 94. The trim plate has a suitable irregular opening 84g through which the forwardly extending portion of the bearing 96 and the bearing boss 94 may extend.

While there has been illustrated and described a particular embodiment of the can opener of the present invention with several mounting means, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended in the appended claims to cover all those changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimedas new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A can opener comprising a frame, a serrated feed wheel. mounted for rotation about a first axis fixed with respect to said frame, an operating lever pivoted about a second axis on said frame and movable between a load position and a can cutting position, a cutter wheel mounted for rotation on said operating lever and positioned eccentrically with respect to said second axis, said cutter wheel in the can cutting position of said lever being spaced substantially the same distance below said second axis as it isto one side of said second axis, said cutterv wheel in said load position of said lever being positioned substantially directly above its can cutting position.

2. A can opener comprising a frame, a serrated feed wheel mounted for rotation about a first axis fixed with respect to-said frame, an operating lever pivoted about a second axis on said frame and movable between a load position and a can cutting position, a cutter wheel mounted for rotation on said operating, lever and positioned eccentrically with respect to said second axis, said cutter Wheel in the can cutting position of said lever being spaced substantially the same distance below said second axis as it is to one side of, said second axis, said operating lever in rotating from said load position to said can cutting position moving said cutter wheel along an are which is. substantially vertical.

3. A can opener comprising a cutter wheel and a feed wheel mounted for operative engagement with the lip of a can, said feed wheel being mounted to rotate about a first horizontal axis, said cutter wheel being mounted above said feed wheel for rotation about a second axis inclined to the horizontal and spaced closely to a vertical plane including said feed wheel axis, an operating lever -being rotatable about athird axis for movement between a load position and a can cutting position, one of said wheels being supported by said lever eccentrically with respect to said third axis for movement of the support wheel toward and away from the other wheel, said supported wheel being positioned on said operating lever along a line extending at about 45 degrees through said third axis when said lever is in its operating position, whereby said supported wheel will move substantially vertically as said lever moves from the load position to the can cutting position.

4. A can opener comprising a supporting frame, a can opening mechanism mounted on said frame and adapted to sever the lid from a can, a lid holder pivot-- ally mounted on said frame adjacent said can opening mechanism, said lid holder being pivotal between a first position and a second position in which the free end of said holder is adjacent the lid of a can being opened by said mechanism, a magnet carried by the free end of said holder, means biasing said holder to said second position, magnetically susceptible material on said frame adjacent said magnet when said holder is in said first position, said magnet and said magnetically susceptible material retaining said holder in said first position until disengaged therefrom.

5. The can opener of claim 4 wherein said housing comprises a casting of nonmagnetic material and said magnetically susceptible means comprises a ferrous plate attached to said frame.

6. The can opener of claim 5 wherein said ferrous plate includes a horizontally disposed stepped portion, said magnet engaging said stepped portion of said ferrous plate when said holder is in said first position.

7. The can opener of claim 5 wherein a can engaging pin projects from the front of said housing adjacent saidfeed wheel, said pin having an inner end of reduced diameter extending through said ferrous plate and said frame to retain said plate assembled to said frame.

8. A power operated can opener comprising a housing enclosing a motor and reduction gearing therein, a shaft driven through said gearing and extending outside of said housing, a feed wheel secured to said shaft outside of said housing, a disk cutter mounted above said feed wheel for movement relative to said feed wheel in a vertical plane, a pair of horizontally spaced support members extending outwardly from said housing on either sideof said cutter, a lid holder pivotally connected along one edge to the free ends of said support members, said one edge of said lid holder extending across and ajacent to" said disk cutter, said. lid holder being pivotal between a substantially vertical guarding position and a substantially horizontal lid holding position, means biasing said lid holder to said last-mentioned position, and magnetically susceptible means cooperating with said magnet to retain said holder in said guarding position.

9. The can opener of claim 8 wherein said housing comprises a cup-shaped casting of nonmagnetic material, aferrous plate positioned against said housing behind said cutter and said feed wheel, a horizontally extending: rib projecting outwardly from said housing below said feed wheel, said plate having a stepped portion conforming to the contour of said rib, said magnet engaging said stepped portion of said plate when said holder is in the guarding position.

10. A can opener comprising a housing enclosing a motor and reduction gearing therein, a feed wheel mounted on said housing. externally thereof, said feed wheelbeing driven through said reduction gearing, a disk type cutter wheel movably mounted on said housing adjacent said feed wheel whereby a can may be gripped between said wheels and the top removed therefrom as said feed wheel is rotated, a magnetic holder for can tops hingably at-- tached to said housing adjacent said cutter wheel, saidholder having a magnet secured on the free end thereof, biasing. means urging the free end of said holder upwardly and away from said housing about said hingable attach-- ment, said holder being pivotal to a lower position; in which said holder is close to said housing,- magnetically susceptible means mounted on said housing adjacent to aoogava said magnet when in said lower position whereby said magnet is attracted thereto retaining said holder in said lower position.

11. In a can opener of the type including a cutter wheel and a feed wheel mounted for rotation on a frame, a lid holder comprising a support member pivotally mounted on said frame, a magnet carried by the free end of said support, said support being pivotal between a first position against said frame and a second position extending outwardly from said frame, said magnet in said second position being adjacent the lid of a can positioned to be opened by said opener, a spring biasing said support into said second position, and magnetically susceptible means on said frame cooperating with said magnet to retain .said support in said first position against the biasing force of said spring.

12. A power operated can opener comprising a housing having a motor and reduction gearing mounted therein, wall means in said housing supporting a feed wheel shaft driven by said reduction gearing and carrying at its outer end a feed wheel, a vertically extending slot in said wall means, a bearing block slidably received in said slot, an operating lever having pivot means engaging said bearing block for pivotally supporting said lever with respect to said housing, a pivotally mounted cutter wheel carried by a lever and positioned eccentrically with respect to the pivot axis of said lever, a coil spring engaging said bearing block and the top of said slot to bias said block downwardly, plate means disposed inside said housing covering said slot, said lever pivot means extending through an opening in said plate, and assembly means on the inner end of said lever pivot means, said assembly means cooperating with said lever and plate to retain said bearing block in said slot.

13. The can opener of claim 12 wherein said feed wheel shaft is mounted for limited axial movement, said housing having a removable cover plate positioned rearwardly of the inner end of said feed wheel shaft, and adjustable spring biasing means mounted on said cover plate urging said shaft forwardly, said spring permitting relative movement between said wheels when in cutting position to compensate for variations in can wall thickness and lip height.

14. A can opener comprising a frame including a supporting wall, a feed wheel shaft journalled in said wall and carrying a serrated feed wheel at its outer end, a vertically extending slot in said wall above said feed wheel, an apertured bearing block slidably received in said slot, an operating lever including a boss receivable in the aperture in said block for pivotally mounting said lever on one side of said wall, said lever having a bearing surface surrounding said boss, a pivotally mounted cutter wheel carried by said lever positioned eccentn'cally so as to move downwardly toward said feed wheel as said lever is rotated, plate means disposed against the other side of said wall covering said slot and being slotted for said boss to extend therethrough, assembly means secured to said boss in sliding engagement with said plate, said assembly means and plate and said lever bearing surface retaining said bearing block within said slot.

15. The can opener of claim 14 wherein said assembly means comprises an enlarged washer and a screw threaded means threadedly received in the end of said boss, said washer and said boss having interlocking means to prevent rotation of said washer.

16. A motor operated can opener comprising a cup shaped housing having the opening thereof facing rearwardly, a plate member secured to said housing to form a closure for said opening, a motor mounted in said hous ing, a feed wheel shaft journalled in the front wall of said housing opposite said plate member, reduction gearing drivingly connecting said motor and said shaft, a feed wheel carried by said shaft outside of said housing, a cutter wheel on said front wall mounted for movement 14 so I between a retracted inoperative position and a cutting position in overlapping relation to said feed wheel, said wheels being mounted to grip the top edge of a canbetween said overlapping portions when severing the lid therefrom, said feed wheel shaft being mounted for limited axial movement to compensate for differences in thicknesses of the walls of cans gripped between said'overlapping portions, and spring means secured to said plate member in biasing engagement with the inner endpof" comprises a cantilever spring extending at right angle to,

said feed wheel shaft, a screw threaded adjustment means accessible externally of said housing for varying the biasing force exerted bysaid spring.

18. A motor operated can opener comprising a hous ing, a feed wheel and a cutter wheel mounted on the outside of said housing, said wheels being mounted in their operative position with portions overlapping to grip the upper edge of the wall of a can therebetween, a driven shaft extending through the wall of said housing and carrying said feed wheel on its outer end, said driven shaft being mounted for limited axial movement, a cantilever spring mounted on said housing perpendicular to said shaft with the free end thereof in biasing engagement with the inner end of said shaft, screw threaded means threadedly mounted on said spring with one end in engagement with said housing, adjustment of said screw varying the force exerted by said spring on said shaft.

19. The can opener of claim 18 wherein said housing is provided with an opening aligned with said screw threaded means to permit adjustment of said screw.

20. A motor operated can opener comprising a housing, a feed wheel and a cutter wheel mounted on the outside of said housing, said wheels being mounted in their operative position with portions overlapping to grip the upper edge of the wall of a can therebetween, a driven shaft extending through the wall of said housing and carrying said feed wheel on its outer end, a motor mounted in said housing, reduction gearing drivingly connecting said motor and said shaft, said gearing including a plastic gear mounted on the inner end of. said shaft, a portion of said gear extending across the inner end of said shaft and providing a spherical plastic bearing projection, said shaft being mounted for limited axial movement, and a cantilever spring mounted on said housing with the free end thereof in biasing engagement with said bearing projection.

21. A can opener comprising a frame including a supporting wall, a feed wheel shaft journalled in said wall and carrying a serrated feed wheel at its outer end, an operating lever having a boss at one end thereof, bearing means in said wall adjacent said feed wheel receiving said boss for pivotally mounting said lever, a cutter wheel carried by said lever positioned eccentrically so as to move toward and away from said feed wheel as said lever is rotated, assembly means secured to the end of said boss to retain said operating lever assembled to said wall, interlocking means on said boss and said assembly means to prevent relative rotation during movement of said lever, and a spring washer positioned on said boss between said lever and said wall to provide resistance to rotation of said lever with respect to said wall.

22. A can opener comprising a housing, a motor mounted within said housing, a feed wheel shaft rotatably mounted in said housing and having one end pro jecting from the front of said housing, means drivingly connecting said shaft to said motor, a feed wheel mounted on said one end of said shaft, an operating lever having a boss at one end thereof, means on said housing adjacent said feed wheel defining a bearing for receiving said boss, said boss extending through the front of said housing and having a transverse slot and a threaded opening on the inner end thereof, a washer retained against I 15 the inner end of said boss by a threaded assembly means, said washer retaining said operating lever assembled to said housing, and a protuberance on said washer extending into said transverse slot to prevent relative rotation between said washer and said boss.

23. A can opener comprising a rectangular cup-shaped housing having a front wall and a rearwardly facing opening,- a motor mounted therein, a feed wheel shaft journalled in said housing extending through said front wall, a feed wheel mounted on the end thereof exterior to said housing for driving engagement with the lip of a can to be opened, said motor having an armature shaft with a worm gear formed on one end thereof, an elongated bearing boss formed in said housing to journal said feed wheel shaft, said bearing boss extending perpendicular to the axis of said armature shaft, gearing drivingly 16 interconnecting said worm and said feed wheel shaft, a bearing plate positioned at the end of said armature shaft to receive the thrust delivered through said worm, and means formed on said bearing boss for receiving and supporting said bearing plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,615,241 Lawrence Oct. 28, 1952 2,803,873 Lappin et al. Aug. 27, 1957 2,825,963 Sykes et al. Mar. 11, 1958 2,850,799 Dodd et al. Sept. 9, 1958 2,883,745 Bristol Apr. 28, 1959 2,897,589 Bodle Aug. 4, 1959 2,953,850 Kronson Sept. 27, I960 

